N.Z. SLAUGHTERMEN

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 197, 18 May 1944, Page 3

N.Z. SLAUGHTERMEN

Transfer To Australia Unlikely No representations have been made to the New Zealand authorities to permit the transfer of slaughtermen from the Dominion to Australia in the off-season here to assist in increased meat killings in the Commonwealth, it was stated in official quarters yesterday. A Melbourne cable message published' yesterday reported the Australian Minister of Labour, Mr. 'Holloway, as having suggested that because the Australian and New Zealand killing seasons did not clash New Zealand slaughtermen could be sent to Australia. s Even if the question were raised offi'cially, it does not seem likely that the proposal would be agreed to. In the past killing season in New Zealand additional labour had to be obtained for freezing works by manpower direction, and in the off-seasons the freezing works hands have been directed to other work. With the temporary release of men from the armed forces to assist in the drive for increased food production, it does not seem that slaughter hands could be spared for work in Australia. A statement that there was something in the suggestion, however, was made by a freezing workers’ union official, who said that he had already received inquiries on the question from.union members. A custom had been in operation in other years, when .slaughtermen worked both in Australia and in New Zealand, in the same way as shearers. If it were decided to make arrangements for slaughtermen in the New Zealand offseason to go to Australia they would be helping to produce a commodity high on the list of essential goods. He thought there would be little difficulty in getting quite a good team of slaughtermen together, if necessary, to go to Australia for the killing season.